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Boulder DA taps robotic cats for role in victim support

Automated comfort an additional tool for improving justice system experience

By Mitchell Byars

Staff Writer

Posted:
04/17/2016 11:30:00 AM MDT

Updated:
04/17/2016 12:27:35 PM MDT

Boulder County District Attorney Stan Garnett believes a pair of these robotic cats can help put victims more at ease as they go through the often trying experience of participating in the legal process. (Courtesy Photo / Courtesy Photo)

For Boulder prosecutors, it's the purrfect machine.

The Boulder District Attorney's Office has secured a grant to buy a pair of robotic cats that will be used to help comfort victims who are elderly or have dementia.

The idea may give some pause, but robotic animals — or companion pets — are widely used around the world, and Boulder District Attorney Stan Garnett hopes they can help calm victims during the legal process, which can be a difficult experience.

"We'll do everything we can to make sure people's trips to the justice system are as healthy and as healing as possible," Garnett said. "If robotic cats can help some folks, that's terrific."

Lizbeth Parker, a volunteer with the community protection division of the Boulder District Attorney's Office who applied for the grant, pointed out that the mechanical meowers were even featured in the New York Times.

"There is research that it is a very effective tool to connect with some elderly people or people in various stages of dementia," said Parker.

Parker said the community protection division got the idea for the robotic cats after hearing about PARO, a robotic baby harp seal developed in Japan to ease stress in hospitals and care facilities.

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But while PARO is cute, it comes with a hefty price tag of $6,000, so Parker said they began to look for cheaper options. That's when they came across Joy for All companion pets from Hasbro, which ran at just $99 a piece.

The mechanical meowers were even featured in a New York Times article.

Parker applied for a volunteer grant from the Boulder County Commissioners and secured $250 to pay for two cats and batteries. She hopes to have them in a few weeks.

"We're extremely interested to see how it's going to be received," Parker said. "We're very grateful to the county for the opportunity to do it this year."

The cats can actually detect light and touch, and can even "interact" with people by nuzzling hands or rolling over for more petting, according to the website.

"It's relatively life-like," Parker said. "It looks like a cat, it is able to meow, it responds to human touch, it responds to noises in the room."

The Boulder DA's Office is no stranger to using animals to comfort victims and witnesses. For two years now, the office has had a golden retriever named Amigo serving as a courthouse dog.

"Watching Amigo and how his presence really just calms people made us think this is worth a try," Garnett said.

Parker said live animals aren't allowed in some places, so having the robotic cats as an alternative to Amigo will allow staff to try and comfort victims no matter where they are.

"There are many situations where you just can't bring a live animal, like care facilities and hospitals," Parker said. "We wanted an option that was going to be able to go anywhere."

As for Amigo, Parker said she thinks dogs and cats living together will not result in mass hysteria.

"I have yet to see anybody Amigo doesn't get along with, so I'm quite confident he'll get along with our new friends," Parker said.

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